With my current cold, I coughed and threw my back out. Now I'm crawling around the floor like a baby. Some soreness and damage to the lower back I've experienced from squat and deadlift injuries. I tweaked my back 2 weeks ago doing deadlifts and it hasn't been the same since.

Today the force of my cough pulled something and I have a ton of nerve pinching and nerve damage going on right now.

I'm done training for a while. I kinda knew this day was coming since I made a return to deadlifts (and squats) after about 7 years away from both exercises due to injuries they cause.

It happens.

I have plenty of other things to focus on. The pain is quite intense though, which is rather frustrating.

Thanks Ben. I'm not sure what to do. I haven't been able to walk since yesterday. Mike is coming over tomorrow afternoon to try to do some work on my back. I think it will just take time.

I've had this type of injury happen about half a dozen times. It is always a bummer and has been happening since 2001. I think I'm just going to stop weight training and find some other interest. I'm thinking of playing poker, maybe even running.

I'll let you know how I'm feeling tomorrow. Thanks man.

PS, I leave TX in about a week for 2.5 months. Taking off to head east for a while.

Just give up the deadlifts and back squats. Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different outcomes! Many people just aren't biomechanically suited for deadlifts - there are so many factors. And there are so many exercises to choose from! Why bother getting injured just because something is popular? The oldtime strongmen didn't do barbell squats - hell, many of them didn't even have barbells! And they found a way to be in great shape and super strong! Don't keep getting injured Robert! Veganism needs you in your top shape...

Thanks all. I'm taking things a day at a time and trying to figure out what steps to do next. Did some massage therapy for my back today and that was nice. Will do more in two days, and maybe chiropractor mixed in there somewhere too. I take off in less than a week for an 800+ mile drive. I spent more than 2 hours in the car today and I was OK, so I think the drive will be fine. After that, I have another 2000 miles or so to drive over the next two weeks. So if I don't get some chiropractic work done before I leave in a few days, I'll do it along the way. I have multiple weddings to attend, one talk to give, and a bunch of people to visit as I drive from to Rhode Island with many winding and even back-tracking trips along the way.

I also want to start playing poker again, for fun

I went to Bone Breaker Barbell today but I just received a sports massage, and I watched my forum buddy bartonx7 train through a leg workout. He did a great job and set a new personal best for barbell squats. Congrats, Bart!

I tend to agree with Chewy regarding the DL's ~ lots of warmup sets although the reps don't necessarily need to be that high. Just want to make sure you are in the groove and all of your primary and secondary muscles are warmed up and prepared for the heavier stuff.

I just got some samples of the Vega range that you sorted out for me, and I gotta say I love them. Thanks so much for doing that out Robert, expect an order soon once I have tried them all out. I will write back to him, really appreciate the trouble he went to.

Taste & mixability is superb and I really like the serving of Omega's in there that you don't get with regular proteins. Top notch stuff! What website do you think I would be best to order through considering I am in New Zealand? Giacomo said to email him directly and he'll sort something out but I have a few friends here that use it and the told me to order it through iherb as Vega doesn't send out to NZ? Sorry for all the questions

He ships all over the world (just like iherb or others, but he's an all-vegan store and a forum member and he sent the stuff out

So if you like anything specific or if any of your friends do you and do end up ordering, www.veganproteins.com would be a great place to do so.

Thanks for posting!

I'm still unable to train, still can't walk properly without pain and I'm saying goodbye to exercises like deadlifts. I know others will tell me to just take some time to rest and get back into it, but I don't want to. I suffer a severe injury nearly every year and I just don't want to go through it anymore.

I started playing cards and might take up running or table tennis or something like that moving forward. I'm excited about doing new things.

Thanks for checking in, buddy. I honestly still don't know. I haven't exercised in 2 months and I'm not sure when I'll return to exercise. My wrist is still injured and I'll have to see a doctor soon and my back is still sore too.

I did get caught in a tornado or some other pretty severe storm yesterday while sitting in a park so I ran to my car, probably over half a mile, close to a mile, and my back was "OK" to run then. I had been planning for weeks to test it out with some jogging and the storm created that opportunity.

Not sure what to do with myself. I haven't even started playing poker which is what I thought I'd do. I'm leaning toward running. I think that might be fun for me. I have a tiny bladder, one of the reasons I stopped running more than 10 years ago, so I'll have to see how I handle that and if it prevents me from enjoying running/endurance training. We'll see.

At the moment, I'm focusing on traveling, spending time with friends and family, writing, and working. No exercise and I'm getting skinny and fat I'm skinny but soft so kinda skinny fat I guess and I'm not too bothered by it. I had a good run in bodybuilding and I'm grateful for the experience and I'm looking forward to discovering whatever is next for me and I don't know yet what that is.

Nah, I wouldn't worry about the bladder thing. If you are running there's always plenty of toilets/trees/bushes around, you kind of get used to it. On my longer 10hr+ runs I used to have to take a toilet roll out with me, I had some rather strange items in my backpack haha.

Glad to hear you made it through that storm, sounds pretty crazy ?! Take care MF.

I ran back to back days. Back tightened up a big and legs are very sore. I think I went a little too fast and too far for not having run in a long time. I ran about 3 miles the first day and 5 or 6 miles the next day. Not sure I can run today. We'll see.

I gotta slowly ease back into it.

Happy to be doing something physical for the first time in nearly months.

So glad you had some good runs! Just wanted to let you know we are pullin' for you. Your book and this website have been such a help to us newbie Vegans, you are doing so much good in the world. Be safe and healthy, with your never-quit-attitude you'll get there, wherever you decide "there" is!

Gotta ease into the running or you will get hurt man! Just because you can do it doesn't mean you should. Start smaller and work your way up. When are you planning to get back to Austin? I'll be up in Boston / New York last couple weeks of August.